Jon-Erik Hexum : He would have been a Major Star!

He would have been a Major Star!

If the accident had not happened Jon-Erik would have been the Man in Hollywood, barnone. No one, from Steve McQueen to Brad Pitt, has come even close to having such a total package. The looks, the voice, the ability, the drive, and the charisma. Next time Voyagers! is re-played on the Sci-Fi channel take a look for yourself, he was awesome, untouchable.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Besides having a "crush" & "fascination" with him, I did my best to follow in his footsteps by modeling/acting to put myself through college. He was a great inspiration to me, growing up in a very small town and not sure what career to pursue. While in college I was fortunate to become involved with an Actor who introduced me to the Greats and the creator's of the machine. From Santa Fe to Hollywood to...??? I have been fortunate enough to have an incredible life and acheived more than I could have ever imagined in the industry~ Thanks to my friend's, including J.E.H., the only Celeb I never had the chance to work with or express my gratitude to in person.

Thanks to all his fans too, I really appreciate the patronage his fans have for this talented young man. I have been very touched by what I've seen in his Memorial Pages and other websites. Thank you all for letting me share a bit of my heart & soul~

Truly,

Shaun De Gasperi


"Great praise to you my friends who make the magic, you inspire the World!"

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Funny its been soo many damn years since Voyagers and I still thought that show (though at times silly n goofy) was a really cool show and I missed it for a long time. It could've been big. Im 36 almost 37 now and JEH would've been 46 or so now and I agree with the first post here. The guy would've been a MAJOR film and possibly tv star too!

He had real good looks, was in great shape, could actually act and didn't need digital effects to make him look more manly or tough (Pitt in the awful Troy) the guy had all the tools to be something special and I'm sure were all worse off for it.

So many stupid ass deaths and it never ceases to amaze me how many talented good people die young and before there time and often tragically! Just so sad.


Hopefully, the people who benefitted from his organs (barf! but it does work!)
will get a touch of what this then young man brought to the world.



Martin

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

He had brains along with brawns as well as wit and charm and also heart and soul. Perhaps God wanted him in a better place for reasons unknown but to him and Jon-Erik.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!


He had brains


Dont think shooting yourself int he temple is brains.


Perhaps God wanted him in a better place for reasons unknown but to him and Jon-Erik

LOL PLEASE

ALLAH ACKBAR!

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I found out years after his death that my uncle recieved Mr. Hexum's heart. Unfortunately my uncle passed two years ago but thanks to organ donation he recieved over 10 years to spend with us. Everyone should be an organ donor and Mr. Hexum will always have a special place with our family.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

So sad. I heard that story of his death, but wasn't sure if it was true. I'm glad to hear that his death helped others, though.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I don't mean to sound cynical, but according to your story your Uncle would have received the heart in roughly 1993. Jon-Erik Hexum died in 1983. Either I misunderstand your story, or perhaps it wasn't his heart he received.
Either way...Kudos to Mr. Hexum for being a donor, and all people who are.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!


Jon-Erik Hexum died in 1983.

He died in 1984.

Happiness must be earned.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

If he was still with us today, I strongly believe that he would have been a major star too! In the short time he was here, he left a lasting impression and fans have never forgotten him.. that says a lot.

Written by Grant Tume
Detour Magazine
April 1997, Page 44

"He's got it, and he can get almost anything. Anything he wants." Advertisement for made-for-television movie, The Making of a Male Model 1983

In the early '80s, Jon-Erik Hexum, formerly "Jack" Hexum of Tenafly, New Jersey, swooped out of the sky like a hayseed Quetzacoatl in a single-engine biplane and straight into the tarantula arms of Joan Collins. It was a scene from the made-for-TV movie The Making of a Male Model, the kind of deliriously frothy melodrama that legends grow out of, or get buried under. Hexum got both. Like the cream that rises to the top of the canister, he was coveted by every cat in Hollywood, his future assured, even inevitable, until a tragic accident, or act of negligence, sent his star plummeting back to earth.

It was the era of Charles Hix's Looking Good, and the last good years of Studio 54. Nautilus was on the ascent and beefcake was le physique du jour. Heroin Chic and CK1 were as yet unimaginable, sex was just starting to look dangerous, and Jon-Erik Hexum was Tyler Burnett, a hunk in the rough transformed by model maven Kay Dillon (Collins) into the hottest piece of horseflesh in the fashion business. It was pure, unembroidered camp - the lie that tells the truth - but Hexum navigated it like it was Ibsen instead of Aaron Spelling, even managing to escape by story's end for the happy ending he was unable to achieve in real life.

Between takes on the set of the CBS series Cover Up in 1984, the actor was fatally injured by a prop gun that discharged either during a bit of accidental horseplay as was first proposed, or through an act of negligence, as later speculation suggested. A live blank cartridge drove bone fragments into Hexum's skull that sent him into a coma from which he never recovered. Had he lived, he would have been 40 this year, and might possibly have spared us the grim pectorals and lockjawed theatrics of Sylvester Stallone, or provided a counterpoint to the emotionally stunted steroid cocktail known as Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the very least, he would have made David Hasselhoff unnecessary.

Retiree Alan Carell, a collector and archivist of one-sided phonograph records (c. 1899-1935), has been doing his best for the past dozen years to see that Hexum's star continues to shine as secretary and founder of the Jon-Erik Hexum Fan Club in Portland, Oregon. "It sort of found me," he says of his unlikely avocation. "I was never really a TV or movie buff - it was the way he died that piqued my interest initially. I really started the club as a means of gathering information."

The fan club offers a document titled "He's Not Coming Back" detailing the events surrounding the actor's death in minute detail, and Carell has a bio-in-progress entitled , Good Guy, which follows Hexum from his childhood in Tenafly, through his college years at Michigan State (where he earned a Bachelor of Art's degree in "Justice, Morality and Constitutional Democracy"), to his final ascent into stardom and the Hollywood vortex that claimed his life.

Hex ain't coming back, that's for sure, and if the idea of a retired record-collector in the Pacific Northwest keeping his torch lit seems, well...curious, perhaps it's because we are inclined to scrutinize the motivations of fandom (Why don't they get a life? What are they really after?) to the detriment of its basic expression of faith. There is also a bit of the detective in Carell, who says, "I took a cue from Peter Shaffer, the author of Equus, who said you pick a bizarre incident, and your job as a writer is to reconstruct what could have happened to precipitate it. Beyond that, he was just a hell of an interesting guy, and someone who deserves to be remembered."

While stardom offers equal opportunities for idealization and exaggeration, a myth must be simple and elemental to achieve cultural resonance. Jayne Mansfields' affinity for the cello and her high IQ have been overlooked in favor of her big headlights. The restless spirit of Jon-Erik Hexum may yearn for intellectual approbation, but he is more like to be remembered as a hunk with a heart of gold. We should all do so badly.

The Jon-Erik Hexum Fan Club is located at 3003 N.E. Knott St., Portland, Oregon 97212


Maybe deep down.. we have a need to be scared.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

That was an impressive & well written account of this person's memory of Jon's life & a few of his many accomplishments. I still can't belive it's going on a quarter century next fall since he's been gone. I am a contemporary of Jon's, a few months younger but clearly remember when he surfaced back in like '82 at least on the Hollywood scene.

My first wife was a huge fan as I'm sure most women were taken by his immediate presence & all. I'm purely hetero & am secure as a male to acknowledge that this guy was something special. I can't remember why I got on the internet & found some stuff on him that still exisits on youtube but it brought back so many vivid memories of that time.

I've had several major role models in my life being a white male born in the late 50s such as Muhammad Ali, Clint Eastwood, Stevie Ray Vaughan, my father when I was a kid & so on. Jon was someone I saw on TV who just broke onto the scene but he had such an impact on some people, I'm sure.

I sent a few emails out over this past weekend to my ex-wife, my current wife & her daughter w/the links to a few youtube things on Jon. The only one who replied back was the ex-wife. As I said, she was a huge fan. I don't even know how I came onto them as I'm sure I've done a few searches over the years on him but this time I watched them more closely.

This guy was a pretty sharp character who not only had some good genetics going on but had a solid brain & appeared not to be all about himself based on what I saw. It hurt back in '84 when I heard the bad news & hit still hurts now in '09 knowing that he's gone.

Unless I have absolutely no connection to reality, this guy may have risen just too damn fast for the powers that be & that's quite possibly why he may have been extinguished well before his time. He may have had too much going on at the time & that's unfortunate. I watched the same goddamned Merv Griffin '84 interview at least 3 times over the past few days & still laugh just as hard at Jon's demeanor & the way he handled himself at such a young age.

The guy was a natural & I believe just too much too fast in this world at this particular time & that's why things turned out the way that they did. He did Merv, Regis (I didn't even know who Regis was back then), a lot of other stuff & then some. Many others have commented on him comparing him to Brad Pitt & others. I'm a Pitt fan & he gets the same BS that Jon got & would have continued to get because of his good genetics.

Pitt has proved himself long ago as a credible actor. So what if he's a manslave now as this is still a free country, last time I checked. Jon was a bit more rugged naturally but Brad is no pussy, either. Hexum was the kind of guy that me & my friends would've have loved to hang with as he was very cool & a major chick magnet that we would've all benefited from.

All kidding aside, this guy still has impact on me. I was just telling my mother tonight that right after his Model TV movie came out that I bought a navy blue jacket, a shirt that was similar to the one he wore in a particular scene & borrowed a red tie from my father's dated collection to match what he wore in a particular scene.

I went to a wedding reception like no other I had ever attended before. The church was Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago. I missed that. The reception was at the Knickerbocker across from the Drake. My dentist's son had married the daughter of the current Chairman of McD's at the time who was Fred Turner. Jon was responsible for how I dressed that night. I just remembered that tonight.

I really don't have a valid explanation as to why things happen in this world as they do. Jon was all about positive things from my far out perspective almost 25 years ago unless I missed something. I was not a friend, unfortunately, or even an acquaintence. That's OK as I've had a good life but agian, Jon was something special. He knew it but I think embraced it in a very self deprecating way that had natural humor attached.

What more can I say? I will continue to watch Jon's things on the internet as they pump me up just like an Ali fight, or a Clint movie or watching Stevie Ray attack his guitar like no other. Jon was definitely special & I look forward to meeting him in the after life. Not any time soon, mind you. Jon-Erik Hexum lives on & will always be the man!

BP

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Your comment is so great! Especially for Jon's younger generation of fans who have not had the opportunity to notice him during his days -because they were either too young or not even born yet- it's great to read about the thoughts of fans who really remember the time and how Jon made an impression on them.

Thanks for sharing your memories.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I loved Voyagers and thought he was really cool. But I liked Knight Rider, too -- and David Hasehoff was cool at that time...how things can change

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I loved Knight Rider too!! And David Hasselhoff - who was quite successful as a singer in Europe, btw.

But Hasselhoff was typically 80s (the way he behaved, the style, the huge sunglasses, OMG!!). I find myself smiling at the thought of having admired him back then.
Jon-Erik Hexum seemed to be timeless. He could be in any movie today and still shine with his charisma and his presence.



Re: He would have been a Major Star!

There is always reasons why people become big and successful due to a short time of success. There are many actors and actresses that have come and gone. Robin Rochelle Stille, Jon-Erik Hexum, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Dorothy Stratten, and many more people who came along and just left us unexpectedly which is very sad that it had to happen you know. He would have done well if he was still with us today and who knows Brad Pitt would be still trying to get into the business you know. Who knows possibly Mr. Hexum could have married Heather Locklear or any other big famous actresses of the 80's or today.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

It's funny you mention Brad Pitt. Somehow I don't think that Jon-Erik Hexum would have become what Brad Pitt is today. In many interviews, Jon-Erik emphasized that he never wanted to be stereotyped as a sex symboy and just needed that status at the beginning to set a foot in the business.

I can only guess, but I think that Jon-Erik wouldn't have become an action star either, but he would have done his best to establish himself as a more serious actor. You know, like Nicole Kidman, who started out as a gorgeous sidekick and turned into a high level oscar winning actress over the years.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

WOW! Really now! I am surprised that he would not want to be a major star because I know that if the roles were right he would more than likely take them you know. He was a great actor and I loved Voyagers when I was growing up when it was on in the 80's.

He might have gone to more serious roles like you said and who knows what else.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I agree, he certainly would have liked to become a major star, as you say. I just think he didn't want to be a star that people only associate good looks with. At least to me, Brad Pitt is more of a sex symbol than a skilled actor.

Jon-Erik seemed to be so proud to get a serious role in the Bear Bryant movie, unfortunately his most important scenes got cut before it was released.

It's sad we'll never know for sure what path Jon-Erik would have taken.
I grew to love Voyagers recently and although I've never seen it as a child (it wasn't broadcast in Germany) I still adore the show and will certainly show it to my family and kids.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I am not 36 and when Voyagers aired I would watch it every week. You know the actress who played Punky Brewster? Her older brother was on this show here. They look a lot a like. I remember when Soliel Moon Frye's older brother was acting he looked a lot like her. He helped her to get into the acting business.

You are so very true about Jon-Erik. We do not know what direction he would have went in his career. Who knows he could have been casted as the next James Bond? The only problem with that is he would have had to work to sustain a English accent through out the whole movie though.

He had those looks of being able to pull something like that off. I am a straight guy here who is only saying that he looked like he had the looks of Sean Connery when Mr. Connery was younger.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I'm not too fond of the James Bond movies in general, but I guess since Tony Hamilton was considered for the role, Jon-Erik would have had great chances to get it too. Although, I believe at that time, the Bond producers didn't think the audience would accept a blonde actor as James Bond - which, as I've read, was the reason Hamilton was turned down (dying his hair obviously wasn't an option ;)

I have no doubt Jon-Erik could have played it perfectly, though. The good-looking secret agent seems to be the "stereotype" he was considered for anyway.

Some roles I would have loved to see him in would be for example:

Kevin Costner's in The Untouchables, Robin Hood, JFK
Tom Cruise's in Rain Man, A Few Good Men
Mel Gibson's in Forever Young, Bird on a Wire (yes, that would have been a funny one for Jon-Erik ;)
Dennis Quaid's in Suspect, or as James Caviezel's father in Frequency.

Just to name a few that come to my mind.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Sounds very good and all on your ideas. Well he could have worked as James Bond because look at the new James Bond he is not tot 1354 ally perfect for the role I do not think and they have totally altered the James Bond image a lot which I do not care for at all.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I don't mind Daniel Craig as James Bond, I just heard they were quite picky regarding the hair color in the 80s. I grew up with Roger Moore's Bond, however, I think Pierce Brosnan came closest to what I imagined James Bond to look like. Jon-Erik sure could have played it in the 90s. In the 80s he might have been too young to be considered for the role.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

With Daniel Craig they sort of not made the James Bond movies like they did with Roger Moore as James Bond, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan. I was not too crazy about Casino Royale and I am 35 going to be turning 36 in March so I grew up in the times of the 80's but I learned to like as wel 5b4 l as James Bond was Sean Connery. He was good I felt as James Bond.

I have to agree with you that Jon-Erik would have been too young to play James Bond in the 80's but had he been around in the 90's I think he would have been perfect for the role though.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I could also imagine that Jon-Erik would have liked to do some directing himself. After all, he intended to produce his own movies sooner or later. I bet he could have had some great ideas for movie projects.

Btw, I'm still amazed at how great the quality of the Voyagers-DVD is. I kinda got used to my tape-to-dvd-version of the show that I completely forgot I was watching the show in low quality. I simply adore those DVDs. I hope they'll release more of his work soon. I can hardly wait to see the Bear, for example.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Yeah he might have had some great ideas you know for some movies but we will never know since he was joking around and took his own life. That is what a lot of actors do is learn working behind the scenes of the camera and eventually disappear from acting and just go to directing, producing, and writing for movies and TV shows.

That is what I have seen a lot of people do since I was a kid you know. I bet the DVD versions are so great to watch too!

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

The DVDs are just awesome. I especially love the subtitles. Not being a native speaker, I've been having a hard time understanding some of Jon-Erik's lines on the show.
Btw, it's funny to see all the details now, like how artificial the snow looks and that some scene backgrounds are simply wallpapers. I never noticed that.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Well that is great to hear Lenaxena! I am glad that you like the DVD's! Yeah a lot of the way that they did TV shows and movies in the 80's you can sort of tell how awful it was you know.

Today's technology is a heck of a lot better to make a TV show and a movie now you know.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

But it also had a certain charm. With all the cgi technology and stuff Voyagers just wouldn't be the same if it were a show nowadays. They focussed more on the plot and the characters instead of the special effect which is a good thing, IMO.

Don't you have any opportunity to see them? I ordered them from Amazon, because the show is not released in Germany - even though there would be a dubbed German version from 1989! But I guess nobody could even come close to Jon-Erik's own voice ;)

The DVDs are available in Great Britain as well, but actually it's cheaper getting them from the states. All one has to have is a region free player ;)

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Well I am glad that they did not just focus on the CGI effects and more onto the characters and plots of the show instead you know.

No I have not seen Voyagers on TV since like the mid to late 80's when some station picked them up in syndication and was showing the show that way. No I do not have a region free player. Sorry about that.

So it would not be any good for me at all you know.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Jon-Erik would definitely had been a major star even today. Those eyes, that smile and that body were enough to keep him in film and TV for as long as he wanted. He was a natural in front of the camera. I know a lot of critics hated Voyagers!, but for a person who didn't have a day's worth of acting experience in front of the camera, Jon-Erik did a fabulous job.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I learned a lot of things about the accident and the facts were that Jon-Erik had been extremely exhausted that day and while he may have jokingly put it to his head, it was not to play Russian Roulette or anything like that. It was just a response to another delay in filming. He didn't say 'let's see if I get myself with this one,' or any other lies/rumors CBS and the studio heads spread about him. He said something along the lines of "Can you believe this...? And mockingly aimed the gun that way. The way someone would do with his finger if they felt a situation was hopeless, just in a joking way.
The triggers were very sensitive and he had just woken up from a nap on the bed in that set. He wasn't alone as reported, sets are NEVER empty like that, there are always many people around sawing, hammering, setting up lights and whatever else. He was probably so drowsy, he didn't even realize he had it in his hand. Everyone that knew him, including the crew, said how exhausted he always was making the show.
Had the studio been doing their jobs, that gun would have been nowhere in sight. They are supposed to take it away from the actors the instant a scene is shot and it should have never been lying around in the open that way. Hollywood has learned a lot since then about gun control and safety.

They rotten studios made Jon out to be a gun loving practical joker to the pre 5b4 ss in order to 'Cover Up' their mistakes with improper handling of the guns...In some instances they even tried to paint him as suicidal which was definitely not the case. He was just very tired. Also, they would not have to pay for any of the hospital bills or insurance incurred to his family if they were sued, so the accident had to become completely HIS fault to free them from liability.

Well, just thought I would clear some of that air. As for the VOYAGERS DVDS they are awesome to watch, if only bare bones because of lack of extras. And I do agree that Jon may have went behind the cameras as well. He had already been saving every penny earned for his own production company at the time of the accident.

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http://www.voyagersguidebook.com

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Interesting to mention that.
I was very surprised to see that actor Richard Anderson (who was not pres 16d0 ent when the accident happened) said something like the accident was said to be a russian roulette game in that Mystery and Scandals show about Jon-Erik. I never believe that for a second, but obviously the word was spread back then.

I have no doubt it was a horrid accident, still it's the studio that needs to be blamed, not the actor. I also think Jon-Erik should not have put himself under so much pressure. A tv show, talk show appearances, a demanding circus performance and hardly time to sleep really gets to you.

Thinking about his death nowadays still makes me incredibly sad. We've also lost other great actors way too early, most recently Heath Ledger, but they all had already established themselves and had built up a name. Jon-Erik wasn't given the time to achieve all that - and now hardly anybody remembers him.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I have the Mysteries and Scandals, but I haven't watched it yet, I really can't stand shows like that sometimes. The word spread far and wide about many things. I agree about Jon being under pressure. He had a very gung-ho, positive attitude and perhaps all the fame came so quickly, it was hard to handle. Jon has been getting some more recent press. People Magazine just released a book entitled, 'GONE TOO SOON' and he is on page 87. I believe PEOPLE was the only one that accurately reported about the incidents surrounding his death.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

The show may be quite cheesy (the host even implied Jon-Erik's ghost still haunts the studio), but it's really interesting to hear the people Jon-Erik knew talk about him. EG Daily's and Christie Jenkins' stories are pretty sweet.
They even had an (asserted) witness of the accident, some kind of drapery install b68 er who said that Jon-Erik was alone when the accident happened - while other sources say there were people around him. Who knows what to believe, it's probably gonna remain a huge mystery forever. However, Ms Jenkins said that she was shocked to read about him having a "death wish" of some kind and she said that this was absolutely not true.

It's really an interesting show.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Hey thanks for all of that information gingasnaps! I appreciate that a lot!

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Hey no problem. The fanclub offers the complete 17 page article entitled 'He's not coming back' and it is very carefully researched and thorough.

Another interesting fact the studios covered up, the coroner report said that the wound Jon received was not the wound you would get from playing Russian Roulette.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

WOW That is very interesting! So it could have been set up then possibly you are saying to look like an accident when it was not one? That is very interest 2000 ing to know about.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Hi Rob!

Well, it surely was an accident, but what was covered up it seems was the studio's involvement or liability towards it. And the fact that they painted Jon to be something he wasn't in order to pin the whole thing on him alone. I guess anyone can do something foolish at any time or not even thinking it's a foolish thing and boom! Tragedy!

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Hey gingasnaps!

I am sure it was an accident and I cannot believe that CBS would cover it up you know so that they would not be held liable towards it all. I know what you mean about that. It is a shame though because Eric had promise and could have made it big I feel.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Btw, didn't his family sue the studios? Did they suceed?
I never really read a lot about this, since it's quite a depressing matter.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I am not really sure about if they did or not. Yes it is a depressing matter.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

I do remember him from my childhood on Voyagers. Had he lived he could have done action movies like Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis and be as popular as both of them. Like James Dean a good talent taken before his time.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Yes I remember him as well from Voyagers in my childhood. Yes he could have became as big as Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis in action movies. Yes he was taken so quickly which is a shame.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Stop spouting propaganda, ginga. He was a dumb, careless 24 yr old model who did a dumb thing even the most novice 238 actor knows NEVER to do. How you claim you know what was 'actually said" (qualified with "something like") is laughable.
The CBS and "rotten studios" reports WERE accurate, accept it-- stupidity kills!
No worries, pretty faced no-talents were plentiful in the '80s, he'd've faded into obscurity by 1990.

PS "... sets are NEVER empty like that, there are always many people around sawing, hammering, setting up lights and whatever else."
Not true. Studios have many soundstages and many sets, chances are they we 16d0 re not building sets on shooting day (pun intended). And who said he was alone, since you "refute" the quote attributed to him at the moment he pulled the trigger?
You're not too bright yerself.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Wow, I had forgotten I posted here. Well, there's no need to get so offended and snippy about it, nor is there need to attack my intellect. Why are you so angry? The man is dead. Why shove him down any further by calling him 'careless' and 'stupid?' I do accept that stupidity kills, tired foolishness, and just plain accidents, and Jon is solely responsible for putting the weapon to his head in that moment. I have no illusions about that. However, there were set rules that were broken...and that can be potentially harmful as well.

I apologize if I offended you in some way, but I have done much research on his life and accident in particular and it just raises a lot of questions that may never be answered.

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Re: He would have been a Major Star!

sigh, one more user to ignore....

[clicks *ignore Kpocc* button]

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Good plan. Anyone 5b4 who provides you correct information is to be ignored.

Re: He would have been a Major Star!

Wow. I was all geared up to make a reply, and Gingasnaps handled it far better than I could've, and with a lot more tact. Bravo!

Go ahead and spout off all you want, Kpocc. You're barking up the wrong tree. If anyone would know the facts behind Jon-Erik's life, it would be Gingasnaps. She pretty much an expert on the man.

Believe it or not, there were people on the set that day (although not in the same room as Jon-Erik when the accident happened) and they have the inside information on what was going on. No, their stories were not splashed all over the tabloids, but, if you cared enough to do a bit of research, you can find a few of those stories on the Internet.

Listen to interviews with Meeno Peluce, his costar in Voyagers. Meeno also believes there was a cover up, and, to quote him, "The investigation was shut down immediately, case closed. Everything was blamed on a dead man who couldn't defend himself. How neat and tidy."

His family DID sue Fox, and recieved an undisclosed settlement from the accident. And because of Jon-Erik's death, stricter prop gun laws were enacted. Who knows how many other lives were saved because of it? He was also an organ donor, so his death was not in vain.

If all the blame rested solely on Jon-Erik, then how could his family have gotten a settlement? Hmm? Evidently something was amiss if new laws were enacted after the fact.

The propmaster didn't do his job. Jon-Erik was exhausted, and probably pretty punchy. When an actor does a scene where a gun is not discharged, he acts with a gun that is NEVER LOADED. If the gun needs to be discharged, the propmaster brings out the loaded gun, the scene is shot, and the gun is taken away and locked up immediately afterwards.

On that fateful day the gun was not taken away. Jon-Erik probably thought he had that never loaded gun in his hand, and he probably assumed, rather incorrectly, that the propmaster did his job. That assumption cost him his life.

Anyone that knew Jon-Erik knew what a wonderful, caring, intelligent man he was. Yes, intelligent. He had a degree in philosophy and was working towards a career in artifical organs before he became an actor. He was also an accomplished diver and pianist. To call him stupid is an ignorant statement, made my someone who clearly has diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain.

Here's a hint, Kpocc: try educating yourself on a subject before spouting off like you know everything. You'll earn more respect that way.

Besides, what has this argument have to do with the fact that the OP believes he would've been a major star? Take your gripes elsewhere. We're not interested.

Jon-Erik Hexum Remembered: http://jon-erikhexumfans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=login
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